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The Masked Saint

Play trailer 1:43 Poster for The Masked Saint PG-13 2016 1h 51m Action Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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14% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A professional wrestler (Brett Granstaff) becomes a pastor in a small Michigan town and moonlights as a masked vigilante.
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The Masked Saint

Critics Reviews

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Justin Chang Variety 01/12/2016
An inauspicious first entry in the Christian pro-wrestling vigilante movie subgenre. Go to Full Review
Inkoo Kang TheWrap 01/08/2016
30/100
Turns out, you can be both macho and righteous, as long as you're doing it for the Lord. Chris' journey toward that revelation makes up this stretched-out parable, which boasts the kind of Lycra-deep characterization we associate with the... genre. Go to Full Review
Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com 01/08/2016
1.5/4
The only thing about it worth remembering is that it was the last film made by wrestler-turned-actor Roddy Piper before his death last year. Go to Full Review
Renee Schonfeld Common Sense Media 04/19/2016
1/5
Trite faith-based tale has mature themes, lots of violence. Go to Full Review
Norman Wilner NOW Toronto 01/21/2016
2/5
[The filmmakers] fail to wrestle this script - no pun intended - into something organic and believable. Go to Full Review
Vincent Mancini FilmDrunk 01/14/2016
B-
It isn't great filmmaking, it mostly isn't even competent filmmaking. But in a world of bankrupt profiteering disguised as religion, a faith-based movie that teaches people to be nicer to each other is something that deserves to be celebrated. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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12/06/2018 The Masked Saint was adapted from a book of the same name that is loosely based on the life of a pro wrestler who left a ten year career to become a pastor. I have not read the book, nor do I know how much of the story is true and how much is fictionalized. What I do know is this is a unique twist on the faith-based movie genre that taps into a desire many have to fight the bad guys and come out victorious. In this film version, successful wrestler Chris Samuels, who fights under the title The Saint, leaves his wrestling career behind to become a pastor at a small town church with lots of problems. The neighborhood is on the other side of the tracks and many unsaintly characters are hanging out on the streets. The church congregation has diminished down to a handful and most of the finances are being donated by one man, Judd Lumpkin, who believes that gives him the right to control everything. And to top it all off, Pastor Chris has a hard time delivering a good sermon and the church choir is tone deaf. This story has a subtle sense of humor that pushes the characterization over the top creating a light-hearted look at otherwise difficult situations. Pastor Chris first has to do battle with the pompous and controlling big donor, Judd Lumpkin. Then, in a case of being in the right place at the right time, Pastor Chris rescues a prostitute from a beating being delivered by her pimp. Later, Pastor Chris comes to the rescue at a robbery in a diner. When it comes to fighting for the survival of his church, Pastor Chris is coached by an elderly church member they call Ms. Edna, played by veteran actress Diahann Carroll. Ms. Edna convinces Pastor Chris to get back in the wrestling ring to earn the money needed to keep the church alive. What we end up with is a pastor who is a wrestler on the side and a vigilante being investigated by the police in his spare time. The Masked Saint is a well-made film, with good cinematography, quality directing, and some top-notch acting. The wrestling scenes, like much of this film, are a little over the top, but nicely designed and photographed. This is a fanciful story about a pastor becoming a part-time crime fighter. Rather than trying to pass this off as a plausible true life story, a decision was made to develop this concept as a fantasy with a thin line of truth. Much of the exaggerated circumstances that drive this story have enough realism in them to create a spark of possibility. In the end, what really comes to life is the idea that complaining accomplishes nothing. Problems are solved by those who take action. See more 09/06/2018 I really enjoy this movie. He is a man of faith with the spirit of a fighter. What he does to help others is such a blessing. I strongly recommend this movie. See more 01/16/2018 This is a great movie. We loved it so much we purchased a copy for our permanent collection. Have shared it with friends and family members. Everyone who has seen this movie has purchased their own DVD so they can also share. The story is inspiring and shows how no matter what life brings we can do whatever God sees fit to put in our path. Highly recommended for all ages. See more 01/11/2018 Excellent family movie, though I'd recommend it for ages over 10. Good story line, fast moving and lots of action with great morals. See more 01/11/2018 Great movie for the whole family! See more 01/10/2018 I typically don't like wrestling however my brother was a big fan which is what prompted me to watch this movie and I absolutely loved it especially since it was based on a true story. See more Read all reviews
The Masked Saint

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Movie Info

Synopsis A professional wrestler (Brett Granstaff) becomes a pastor in a small Michigan town and moonlights as a masked vigilante.
Director
Warren P. Sonoda
Producer
Cliff McDowell
Screenwriter
Scott Crowell, Brett Granstaff
Distributor
Freestyle Releasing
Production Co
Ridgerock Entertainment Group, P23 Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Violence)
Genre
Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$182.0K
Runtime
1h 51m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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